Read Online Rust Bucket by Atk. Butterfly - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Atk. Butterfly
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in reply.
      "We already are alone. They're out of action as it stands right now. They couldn't defend themselves against a scout, let alone a light or medium class warship. They're down to fifty percent of their personnel on their feet, two weapons stations operable, and less than forty percent maneuverability. They're barely able to keep us with us. If they try to do maneuvers at higher speeds, I doubt that their structure will hold together. I doubt that they want to provide cover for us to escape when they don't even stand a chance of survival," I answered.
      The Commander stared ahead, becoming frozen again in the face of aggressive action that required a decision. Having another ship next to us must have registered in his mind as still having a force. To me, we were alone even if there were twenty Avenger 's in similar condition next to us. Quickly, the acting Captain of our ship chimed in with the same recommendation that the Avenger set down on a suitable planet. Even after the acting First Officer added his agreement to my recommendation, the Squadron Commander remained frozen. I left it to them to take action with the ship's surgeon to have the Commander removed and later placed under sedation. That happened within two hours after the meeting dissolved, rather than adjourned.
***
I was called by the acting Captain to the bridge shortly after the Squadron Commander was taken to his quarters. "What would you really do? Leave them on a planet or pick them up?" he asked.
      I said, "It would depend on whether there were any enemy vessels around. Do a complete sweep around the selected planet for enemy forces. Land the other ship and then ourselves as soon as they're on the ground. Then transfer their people over here. We can use all the personnel we can get. We're going to need to have personnel manning our battle stations around the clock once we're alone. We try that now, we're going to wear ourselves out. With their ship's complement on board, we just might make it. If we run into any enemy vessels, we announce battle stations and go after them with guns blazing. No more pussyfooting. We don't wait for them to shoot first. We already know that we're at war. The advantage lies with the side that shoots first and the most. If the odds are too great, then we get the hell out of Dodge, but not without leaving a calling card that might slow them down."
      "Do you really think that will work?" he asked.
      I answered, "I don't know of any better way. I'm certainly tired of slinking back to port with my tail between my legs."
      He dismissed me then. I returned to my duties unaware that others, who knew how I had been performing duties that he and the first officer should have been doing, were advising him to do as I suggested. In fact, the first indication I had that he adopted my suggestion was when the alarm for landing positions was given. It was a sloppy personnel transfer, but it was still completed before we could be caught on the ground with our overslick pants around our ankles. When we were back in space, I went forward to the bridge and sought out the acting Captain.
      "Yes, Lieutenant? What can I do for you?" he asked.
      I replied, "I want to assign some of these personnel to gun stations and get those who don't know how to shoot trained as much as possible before the enemy finds us or we find the enemy."
      "Is that all?" he asked.
      I answered, "That's all. I just want us to have the best chance possible. You run the ship. I'll just run the guns."
      That appeared to appease him, in that I wasn't questioning his authority and merely wanted to make sure his ship was ready for action. He nodded and I went about getting the personnel roster that came over with the men.
      "We already are alone. They're out of action as it stands right now. They couldn't defend themselves against a scout, let alone a light or medium class warship. They're down to fifty percent of their personnel on their feet, two weapons stations operable, and less than forty percent maneuverability. They're barely able to keep us with us. If they try to do maneuvers at higher speeds, I doubt that their structure will hold together. I doubt that they want to provide cover for us to escape when they don't even stand a chance of survival," I answered.
      The Commander stared ahead, becoming frozen again in the face of aggressive action that required a decision. Having another ship next to us must have registered in his mind as still having a force. To me, we were alone even if there were twenty Avenger 's in similar condition next to us. Quickly, the acting Captain of our ship chimed in with the same recommendation that the Avenger set down on a suitable planet. Even after the acting First Officer added his agreement to my recommendation, the Squadron Commander remained frozen. I left it to them to take action with the ship's surgeon to have the Commander removed and later placed under sedation. That happened within two hours after the meeting dissolved, rather than adjourned.
***
I was called by the acting Captain to the bridge shortly after the Squadron Commander was taken to his quarters. "What would you really do? Leave them on a planet or pick them up?" he asked.
      I said, "It would depend on whether there were any enemy vessels around. Do a complete sweep around the selected planet for enemy forces. Land the other ship and then ourselves as soon as they're on the ground. Then transfer their people over here. We can use all the personnel we can get. We're going to need to have personnel manning our battle stations around the clock once we're alone. We try that now, we're going to wear ourselves out. With their ship's complement on board, we just might make it. If we run into any enemy vessels, we announce battle stations and go after them with guns blazing. No more pussyfooting. We don't wait for them to shoot first. We already know that we're at war. The advantage lies with the side that shoots first and the most. If the odds are too great, then we get the hell out of Dodge, but not without leaving a calling card that might slow them down."
      "Do you really think that will work?" he asked.
      I answered, "I don't know of any better way. I'm certainly tired of slinking back to port with my tail between my legs."
      He dismissed me then. I returned to my duties unaware that others, who knew how I had been performing duties that he and the first officer should have been doing, were advising him to do as I suggested. In fact, the first indication I had that he adopted my suggestion was when the alarm for landing positions was given. It was a sloppy personnel transfer, but it was still completed before we could be caught on the ground with our overslick pants around our ankles. When we were back in space, I went forward to the bridge and sought out the acting Captain.
      "Yes, Lieutenant? What can I do for you?" he asked.
      I replied, "I want to assign some of these personnel to gun stations and get those who don't know how to shoot trained as much as possible before the enemy finds us or we find the enemy."
      "Is that all?" he asked.
      I answered, "That's all. I just want us to have the best chance possible. You run the ship. I'll just run the guns."
      That appeared to appease him, in that I wasn't questioning his authority and merely wanted to make sure his ship was ready for action. He nodded and I went about getting the personnel roster that came over with the men.
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